Justice In Venezuela Steps Down In Protest

Other News to Note - Caribbean & Latin America

August 25, 1999

CARACAS, Venezuela - The president of Venezuela's Supreme Court resigned in protest Tuesday, saying the court had ``committed suicide'' by caving in to a new constitutional assembly controlled by supporters of President Hugo Chavez. Cecilia Sosa said she was giving up her post to protest a Supreme Court ruling late Monday that backed the assembly's decision to give itself powers to fire judges and overhaul the courts. Sosa said that decision contradicted an earlier court ruling that the assembly's mission should be limited to writing a new constitution for Venezuela.